A NEW type of bin is being trialled in the heart of Largs as the council continue to seek solutions to the town’s litter issues.

The new Nexus bins have a modern, stylish appearance and are designed for areas where a large capacity container is required for collecting rubbish.

They are gull and rat-proof and have about 40 per cent greater capacity than traditional bins.

It is the second type to be trialled in Largs, the first bins piloted in the summer were the ‘Big Belly Bins’ located on the Promenade – which use solar power to compact waste.

The Council’s Streetscene team will assess the effectiveness of these latest bins before deciding on the best approach going forward.

Jim Montgomerie, Cabinet Member for Place, said “Largs is a hugely popular town and we want to make it as attractive as we possibly can, both for the local residents and the many people that visit the area.

“But there has been an ongoing problem with gulls raiding the bins and making a real unsightly mess during the summer months.

“We are looking at ways of eradicating this problem and trialled tbe Big Belly Bins. We are now looking at the Nexux bins and they will be located in the town centre to assess their effectiveness over the busy Christmas period.

“We will compare them to the Big Belly Bins and then make a decision we hope will help us improve the situation in Largs.”

North Ayrshire Council has been the only local authority in west of Scotland to try out the Big Belly bins, which are also rat and gull-proof.

Four of the Big Belly Bins – the same type of bins currently used in Times Square, New York - were installed along Largs seafront for nine weeks.